Incredible True Story! My Favorite Movie!

First of all, it's based on a true story. A story like this already
fascinates me. There are plenty of drama and thrills. Those are the
movie genres I thrive on. The only thing I will "spoil" is that you
will learn so much about the real case. Especially if you get the DVD,
which has so much coverage.

The actors couldn't have been better cast. Chris Cooper was the best
here. He literally scared me at times! That's a good thing considering
his character. Ryan Phillippe brings a lot of depth to his character
too. Laura Linney is also well cast as a serious yet witty character.
The rest of the cast is great too. I think they all enjoyed this movie.

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2 out of 3 people found the following review useful:

spy movie

i didn't like it much. its OK to watch, but never really got me
involved. it reminded me a lot of some Russian spy-movies from the
80ties, but its maybe even worse, because Breach is just so uninspired

I didn't like Ryan Phillippe's play, while Chris Cooper and Laura
Linney played so well this movie didn't deserve them. Also - can we
please see a CIA/FBI/NCA movie without Dennis Haysbert in it?

Of course, it is filmed very well. Could it be better? Probably. Every
story can be filmed superbly, depending on the drive behind it

6/10

peace

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2 out of 3 people found the following review useful:

Excellent movie all the way around

This movie is a smart, intense thriller with A+ work all the way
around, from the direction to the script to each member of the cast. I
already knew Chris Cooper and Laura Linney were top-notch and they
definitely proved that again in this film. Ryan Phillippe was the big
surprise for me. He was excellent and I often had the eerie sense that
he was truly generating the dialog himself, rather than acting.

The film was filled with quiet intensity, with the drama coming from
character and well-written scenes. No theatrics, shoot outs or car
chases were necessary to keep it interesting.

If you rent or buy the CD, you should also check out the bonus
features-all are interesting, especially the the director's and the
real Eric O'Neill's play by play commentary.

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2 out of 3 people found the following review useful:

Breach- What A Compromise! ***

Chris Cooper is very good as spy Robert Hanssen who caused so much
damage with his espionage dealings from 1985.

Cooper conveys the mood of a religious obsessed person, who is
autocratic, surly and just downright nasty to his subordinates. Who
would ever guess that he was passing to the Soviets so much
information?

Ryan Philippe is definitely an up and coming actor. Sent in by the
bureau to investigate Hanssen, he immediately comes across as a
nervous, incompetent person. Hanssen finally comes to realize that
Officer O'Neill is not as foolish as he makes himself out to be.

Laura Linney, a bureau head, does a very good job in conveying what is
going on and what she is doing to destroy Hanssen.

This true story was handles adeptly by Hollywood.

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2 out of 3 people found the following review useful:

An Insightful and Deeply Compelling Movie

One of the best movies of 2007, Breach represents excellence in drama.
What is especially surprising is that this espionage movie isn't so
much a thriller or action movie but a real drama that exposed the dense
gray area of the complexity of human behavior, thinking, and emotions.
Chris Cooper landed a script that is amazing in its ability to allow
Mr. Cooper to present on screen a complex individual that cannot be
easily categorized or demonized for what is purportedly the worst spy
scandal in United States history. The drama that incidentally revolves
around the true story of FBI agent Robert Hanssen details deeply movie
dialogue and psychological warfare both impacting on a marriage,
employee-employer relationships, and individual to individual trust
issues. A qualitatively superior based on a true story production. Nine
out of Ten Stars.

More than just a spy story.

This was a good spy story, but since it is based on real events which
have already happened and we already know how it's going to end up, it
is good that Breach is also more than just a spy story.

The pacing flows very well. We're brought along into the story with
O'Neill, who's a "confident, bordering on cocky" agent who is doing it
all for the promotion. As he realizes there is more to behind the case
than just sexual perversion, his life, his morals and his beliefs are
forced to be questioned as he struggles with the investigation of his
Boss, of his Sir.

As we reach to the end of the movie towards an obvious fate, we learn
much about the dark corners of life, how easily we can all fall when we
choose to only blame others, when we choose to only remember the bad
aspects of our lives.

The end scene was absolutely perfect for this movie, I loved both
characters in the movie-O'Neill AND Hanssen. Hanssen was someone who
had lost all direction in his life. On the contrary, O'Neill was
someone who was trying to find his. O'Neill thinks he is on the right
track, that is, until he meets Hanssen. It is here, that he sees a
broken example of how he could become with the kind of goal he had in
his mind.

Chris Cooper played his part as the pathetic Hanssen flawlessly. I'm
not sure if the real Hanssen was as "real" as how Chris Cooper had
portrayed him. Chris Cooper understood this character like the "back of
his hand", I'm not sure if Hanssen had as much layers to him as Cooper
had made him to be in the movie. Yet, it must be necessary, because the
way Cooper had played out this character, it left me feeling for
Hanssen, sympathizing him all throughout the whole movie and for a very
long time after I left it. To summarize it, I saw him as well O'Neill
had saw him in his investigation, every second O'Neill spent with
Hanssen, I was behind O'Neill's eyes, feeling O'Neill's emotions that
led him to his decision at the end of the movie.

Ryan Phillippe is not to be underestimated either. He played out his
part as O'Neill very well too. This is not easy, as O'Neill is someone
who goes through an extraordinary amount of transformations in his
character, in his morals, not to mention in a very short time span. We
have to understand his struggles. As much as he had to do his JOB, he
was also suffering with what he was doing to Hanssen because during
this time, O'Neill is the only one who understands what led Hanssen to
this downfall in moral character.

I don't know much about music, but the piano symphonies in the
background was excellent in carrying out the emotions at certain points
in the movie. I especially liked the last one which ended the movie. I
recommend this movie to everyone, and you don't have to be an American
to view it. Despite all the repeated "patriotisms" echoed in the lines,
I feel that it was only there to contrast Hanssen's doings. Hope I
don't get criticized for sympathizing with Hanssen, but it must be
excusable because the way Chris Cooper had portrayed him just FORCED me
feeling for this character. Sorry if this review is too long but I
really loved this movie. =p

This will be one of my top films of 2007

This is the story of Robert Hannsen super spy & traitor & how he was
brought down.

From a story by Adam Mazur & Wm Rotka & a screenplay written by these 2
and the director Billy Ray. Breach is without a doubt going to be one
of my top films of 2007.

I do hope Universal will re-release this excellent thriller in late
November for it to be considered for many Oscars. The superb
cinematography of Tak Fugimoto,The excellent editing of Jeffrey Ford &
the wonderful music by Mychael Denne as well as all the other credits
must be considered for possible Oscar nominations.

Chris Cooper as the traitor & Ryan Phillipe as the agent in training
who helps bring him down, BOTH are excellent.In fact no person in the
cast is less than excellent.Laura Linney, Kathleen Quinlan,Dennis
Haysburt, Bruce Davison & Gary Cole add vital support. I also must
commend a new actress Caroline Dhavernas as Phillipe's wife.

Cooper WILL get a nod, all the others are possible as well.

I wish she does well in her career.

There is next to no action, as there should not be in this type of
film, so children may not appreciate it.Some of the story may be too
mature for them as well. It does have a proper PG-13 rating

This film is for adults & True movie buffs.

Ratings **** (out of 4) 99* points (out of 100) IMDb 10 (out of 10).

*It is very rare for me to award any movie 100 points

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2 out of 3 people found the following review useful:

Good spy movie

This movie is based on a true story. Being from the UK I'm not familiar
with the story, so i can't vouch for the accuracy or otherwise of the
movie. The film stands up on it's own right though and I don't think
knowledge of the facts would make any difference to the enjoyment of
the film.

The story revolves around thee investigation of the most notorious
double agent in American history. Robert Hanssen is played by Chris
Cooper who must be one of the finest actors in current cinema. It's a
shame the movie wasn't cut a bit more because it's a bit ponderous at
times, but it's still well worth a view.

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2 out of 3 people found the following review useful:

Breaching the spy thriller genre

The movie"Breach" which stars Chris Cooper,Ryan Phillippe and Laura
Linney is inspired by the true story of FBI agent Robert Hanssen who
was selling secrets to the Soviet Union before it's collapse. It was a
"cat and mouse" type thriller where you have one agent chasing another
agent by gaining trust and expecting him to reveal himself as a mole to
the FBI and a traitor to the United States of America. It is a movie
that is guaranteed to make you sit down and watch very closely and it
is highly recommended not just to watch at the cinema's but also at
home on DVD. One thing that was a disappointment was that a clip of a
February.19,2001 news conference statement by John Ashcroft was shown
as it would sort of spoil the end of the movie with Robert Hanssen's
capture, however it would only show when and why he was captured but
not how he was captured. Excellent performances by Chris Cooper,Ryan
Phillippe and Laura Linney. I would give it a 9 out of 10 for it's
excellent casting and a bit of a twist. It is definitely worthy of a
few Academy Award nominations such as Best Actor-Chris Cooper and Best
Supporting Actor-Ryan Phillippe.

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2 out of 3 people found the following review useful:

To watch or not to watch?

Having no previous information about Robert Hanssen, I entered the
theatre with no preconceived notions or high expectations, which, in
part, might be held responsible for the appraisal i honour this film
with.

Chris Cooper is brilliant playing the role of a mischievous, intriguing
FBI agent who keeps dodging suspicions linked to a leak of information
to the soviets.

Eric O'Neill, bravely interpreted by Ryan Phillippe tags along, trying
to earn Hanssen's trust and ultimately find out if he's THE mole who's
been passing out information for years to rival agents.

In a hectic background, Eric is constantly being put under pressure by
Hanssen, who starts compromising Eric's relationship with his wife. At
any given point, some other "clerk" would have backed out and preferred
to move away from the imminent chaos. However, O'Neill puts himself to
the test and tries to shed some light on the obscure personality of
Hanssen.

For those of you who enjoy an above-average spy movie, here's a chance
to witness a stupendous interpretation from both actors Chris Cooper
and Ryan Phillippe.